Nurse ‘super encouraged’ by state of Sixers following mini-break originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Asked about how he’d spent the Sixers’ mini-break created by the NBA Cup’s knockout rounds, VJ Edgecombe started on a candid note.
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“To be honest, rest,” he said.
The rookie was certainly not alone, although the Sixers also tried to be productive since their last game, a tight loss Sunday to the Lakers.
Head coach Nick Nurse said the team looked in depth at both sides of the ball, as well as “a pretty heavy dose of special teams, late-game situations.” Overall, Nurse is pleased with the state of the 13-10 Sixers.
“I’m generally super encouraged,” he said after practice Thursday. “I think the team is playing pretty good basketball. We’re in most games. We’re giving ourselves a chance to win. I think we’re doing a lot of great things late in games. … It feels like we’re heading in the right direction and that’s what you want. It’s a steady climb for that all year long, and it feels like that’s what’s happening now.”
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While many of their offensive numbers have tailed off after a 5-1 start, the Sixers have fared well defensively the last month.
Since Nov. 11, the team has the seventh-best defensive rating in the NBA outside of garbage time, according to Cleaning the Glass. Paul George’s presence has helped.
“We can take it a little further,” George said Wednesday. “I think we’re a little ways away from where we need to be, but I think we’re getting there. We’re making steps to be a better defensive team. Kelly (Oubre Jr.) obviously brings a lot. He’s still one of the best on-ball defenders, one of the best help-side defenders … and just that tenacity he plays with on the defensive end to get after it.
“We’re going to get a lot once he comes back, and then it’ll allow us to be more versatile with myself, with K.O., with (Dominick) Barlow, Quentin (Grimes) … the four of us taking the bulk of the defensive matchups. We’ll be really good, but I like where we’re at. It’s a good thing to have areas to improve when you’re going in the right direction.”
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Both Oubre (left knee LCL sprain) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) remain sidelined.
“They’re on the court doing some individual stuff, but not on the court with the team,” Nurse said.
The Sixers also listed Tyrese Maxey (illness) and Joel Embiid (left knee injury recovery) as probable for their game Friday night vs. the 6-18 Pacers.
The hope is that the Sixers return as a refocused, refreshed, slightly healthier team.
Not everyone was a fan of the time off, though.
“I don’t enjoy it,” Andre Drummond said with a smile. “It feels like a mini-All-Star break. Once you have a routine going, it’s hard to break that when you have almost a week off. Difficult, but I guess we’ve got to win more games so we can be in the Cup.”
